Manufacture of soap-oil compositions



Aumu 7AM? ORGANIC A010 TANK Jan. 16, 1934.

A. E. BECKER ET AL MANUFACTURE OF SOAP-OIL COMPOSITIONS Filed June 24 1926 K ARMAN Y .BE.cvx\= R 2, REBMALQQ. SLOAHE awuento as Patented Jan. 16, 1934 PATENT OFFICE MANUFACTURE or soar-on. COMPOSITIONS Arman Edward Becker and Reginald G. Sloane, Elizabeth, N. J., assignors to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 24, 1926. Serial No. 118,166

4 Claims.

'3 invention relates to improvements in hydrocarbon oil compositions containing soap, and to improve methods of making such compositions. In accordance with the invention, the soap is as- 5 sociated with the oil under such conditions that a fluid product is formed in which the soap appears to exist as a colloid. The invention will be fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, showing one suitable form of apparatus.

As illustrative of the invention, the manufacture of a soap-containing lubricating oil will be described. Mineral oil of about 285 seconds Saybolt viscosity at 100 F. is charged into a still 1 through pipe 2. Heat is supplied to the still from a furnace setting, which should be so arranged that flames and hot gases do not come in contact with still surfaces which are not covered by liquid oil.

The calculated amount of oleic acid (elaine or red oil) is drawn from a tank 3 through pipe 4 and is fed into the still 1, wherein it is thoroughly mixed with the oil by means of a propeller-type stirrer 5 mounted off center in the still. When the mixture of oil and oleic acid has reached a temperature of about 180 F., the calculated amount of a 10-25% aqueous solution of sodium 50 hydroxid, required to substantially neutralize the 'oleic acid, is drawn from tank 6 by pipe 7 to the still 1. The soap formed by the neutralization of the oleic acid may, for example, constitute about 0.17% by weight of the composition and will in most cases be not more than 0.5%. The agitation and heating; as described; are continued throughout the operations referred to. The agitation should be sufliciently vigorous to expose fresh surfaces of the composition and thus pre- 40 vent the collection of a foam layer.

The amount of heat supplied to the still should be so regulated in most cases that the composition is raised to a temperature of at least 350 F. and preferably about 370 F., or even higher when very high viscosity oils are being used such as steam cylinder oils having a viscosity of 100 or above (Saybolt) at 210 F. The composition may be brought up to temperature as rapidly as practicable for lubricating purposes. Ordinarily.

about 6 to 8 hours will be required for reaching the required temperature when charges of about 600 barrels (50 gallons) are being worked up. At the end of this period it will be found that the reaction betwen the oleic acid and sodium hydroxid is completed and that substantially all water has been removed as steam from the composition. The manheads 8 on the still 1 are left open during the operation to permit escape of steam. Suction or other means may be adopted for facilitating the removal of the steam.

After practically all water has been removed from the composition, the fires are drawn. Agitation is continued for a short time to insure that the last traces of water are removed from both the composition and the vapor space in the still. The hot contents of the still are then pumped through pipe 9 to the cooler 10. This is preferably a long pipe coil with many bends. The cooled product is drawn off through pipe 11 to a storage tank 12.

It is best to cool the composition rapidly, as otherwise gel formation is likely to occur. Rapid cooling, coupled with considerable agitation, such as may be effected in a pipe coil of the type described, is desirable. Vigorous agitation without positive cooling will also serve in many cases to prevent the formation of a gel. However, rapid cooling is desirable throughout the temperature range (about 350 to 150 F.) in which the gel is likely to appear. If the gel does not form within this temperature range, thecompositlon will be stable under all ordinary conditions; that is, it will show no separation of soap even after long standing but will remain a clear, apparently homogeneous liquid. The invention is particularly adapted for the preparation of oils containing soap in amount which will not increase greatly the viscosity of the oil; the soap being present in amount and physical condition adapted to improve the film-maintaining prop- -erty of I the oil.

While it is desirable to form the soap in the body of oil, it may be added in other ways, for

example preformed, as a solid or in water or in alcohol solution. When the soap is added in solid form, it is preferably finely ground and run into the body of oil in the still, while the oil is being heated and agitated, as above described. Solutions of soap in water or other solvent are added in a similar way. Fairly concentrated solutions of the soap are desirable, for example 10% solutions. The temperature to which the OH is raised is sumcient to expel the solvent. The invention is not limited to the use of the special materials, proportions, and operating eonditions described. A heated agitator, of open or closed type, or other suitable equipment, may be used instead of the still described for illustration herein. Various changes and alternative arrangdinents may be made within the scope of 11 perature range in which gel formation would otherwise take place.

2. The method of making a liquid lubricating oil composition, which comprises adding to hydrocarbon oil, having lubricating properties, not more than approximately 0.5% by weight of soap adapted to increase the film-maintaining properties of the oil, heating the mixture until the soap is dissolved and cooling the mixture rapidly, whereby gel formation is prevented.

3. The method of making a liquid lubricating oil composition, which comprises adding to hydrocarbon oil having lubricating properties not more than approximately 0.5% by weight of soap adapted to increase the film-maintaining properties of the oil, heating the mixture until the soap is dissolved, cooling the mixture rapid- 1y, whereby gel formation is prevented, and agitating the mixture during cooling.

4. The method of making a liquid lubricating oil composition, which comprises adding to hydrocarbon oil, having lubricating properties not more than approximately 0.5% by weight of soap adapted to increase the film-maintaining properties of the oil, heating the mixture to approximately 370 13'. until the soap is dissolved, and cooling the mixture rapidly with agitation through a temperature range of approximately 350 F. to 150 F. whereby gel formation is prevented.

ARMAN EDWARD BECKER. REGINALD G. SLOANE.

CERTIFICATE OF GORREGTIQN,

Patent No. 1,943,806. January 16, 1934.

ARMAN EDWARD BECKER, ET AL.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above atumbered patent requiring correction as ioliows: Page 2, line 7, claim 1, hr "5%" read 5%; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this cert-action therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this ZGtltday of March, A. D. 1934.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

